Pick-up mechanism



p 1949 e. INNES Re. 21,571

PICK-UP MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 17. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l 650 R65 uwwss mmvroa.

FIE-E ATTORNEY.

Sept. 17, 1940. [NNES Re. 21,571

PICK-UP MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 17. 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet I l1. 1r II 77/111. d

650 765 //V/VE5 IN V EN TOR.

ZZM y A TTORNEYI Roi-ed Sept. 17, 1910 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PICK-UP MIEGHANISMI Geergelnnes, Davenport, Iowmslignortolnncs Bettendorf, Iowa, a corporation of 26 Claims.

The present invention relates to harvesting machinery and more particularly to pick-up mechanism for gathering vegetation which has been severed and left lying upon the ground. of course this can be used with a cutter mechanism so that the cutting and gathering will both be performed as parts of the same operation It is found that in rice fields a pick-up with rlgid'nngers has a tendency to gather and convey over to the apron or conveyor belt stones and chunks of dirt. This is thoroughly undesirable and it is the primary purpose of this invention to overcome this objectionable feature of prior machines. Other objects of this invention are the provision of an improved rotary means for picking up the cut vegetation: the provision of improved means for rotating the pick-up unit; and such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will hereafter appear and as are inherent in the construction disclosed herein. My invention further resides in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts illustrated in the acoomlllnring drawings and, while I have shown therein what is now regarded as the preferred embodiment of this invention, and an alternative form thereof, I desire this disclosure to be understood as illustrative only and not to be interpreted a limiting sense.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof.

Hg. 1 repruents a broken fragmentary view, in

construction embodying my present represents a side elevation taken from theleftsideofl 'lg. Lasindicated by thearrows Hg. 3 represents a longitudinal section through the pifl-tw unit in the plane defined by the axis ofthsdrumandthesxisofthecage;

Pig. resents a vertical transverse section ggin s is supported by suitable bearing elements 9 and III. A device I I for carrying the vegetation from the pick-up 8 to the apron 2 is rotated by a chain l2 running over a sprocket If on the shaft 8. This device ll, referred to herein as a slinger, is carried on a shaft It mounted in suitable bracekts adjacent the ends of the shaft.

The pick-up unit 3 comprises a drum l5 and cage it having spring fingers ll, together with operating means for the cage. As shown in Fig. 5, the sprocket wheels I and it, in the preferred form of this construction, are secured directly to the shaft 8. Therefore, when the chain 6 is driven from the source of power, the shaft 8 is rotated, driving the chain l2 and, through this, the slinger II. A sleeve llsurrounds the shaft 0 and is keyed, as shown at H, to the bearing unit It. If desired any suitable form of roller 01' ball bearin may be inserted between the sleeve i8 and the shaft 8. A collar 20 is rotatably mounted on the sleeve l8 and is secured to the end 2| of the drum I5. This furnishes a bearing for the drum on the sleeve. If desired, suitable bearing elements may be inserted between the collar 20 and sleeve it, although this is regarded as unnecessary because the rate and amount of rotation between these two is comparatively slight. The opposite end of the drum is supported by a suitable shaft 22 and bearing 23.

A bracket or arm 24 is keyed to the sleeve is by a key 25 and it is therefore apparent that since the sleeve is held stationary by the key IS the bracket or arm 24 will also be held stationary and at the proper angle, once it is properly set. This bracket 24 has a shaft 28 rotatably mounted therein and this shaft 26 cooperates with a like shaft at the opposite end of the cage It in supporting the latter in proper position within the drum It. Sprockets 21 and 28 are respectively mounted on-the shafts 2t and 8 and are located in the same plane, the sprockets being keyed to their respective shafts and connected by means of a chain 29. Therefore, rotation of the shaft 8 causes rotation of 'the shaft 26 and the cage It, which is keyed to the shaft 26.

The cage comprises a pair of ends 30 and a plurality of tubular bars 3i, the ends of which surround lugs 32, projecting inwardly from and formed on the inner faces of the ends 30. These bars are pinned to the lugs 32 and are therefore incapable of rotation about them. The spring fingers II are formed at their inner ends into coils 33 which are rigidly secured to the bars II by means of bolts 34. Openings :5, formed in the peripheral wall of thedrum II, have reill-axis. Itisalsoapparentthstifthesprlngfingers 16 is also apparent that the slinger n will receive ofthemechanismtowhichthisapronisto its bracket II is pinned to the opposite end of the shaft Ia and is therefore held in a rigid position because of the shaft being held rigidly. It is apparent from this figure that the sprocket I is keyed to the sleeve Ila instead of to the shaft, as in the previously described construction. Also, 40 the sprocket II is keyed to the sleeve Ila which is free to rotate in the bearing member ill, under the influence of the chain 8 and sprocket 1. In this form of construction, the drum I5 is free to rotate on the sleeve Ila, just as in the previously as described construction. In this construction, the sprocket II is keyed to the sleeve Ila instead of to the shaft, as in the structure previously described. The operation of this device is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 5, the only 60 difference being that in one the solid shaft rotates and causes rotation of the cage and drum while the sleeve or hollow shaft is held stationary and, in the other form, the functions of the two parts are reversed.

as It is of course understood that the specific description set forth above may be departed from without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in this specification and the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. In a pick-up for loose vegetable matter, in

combination, a rotatable drum having peripheral apertures for the reception of spring fingers, a

rotary cage within said drum, eccentrically positioned and having spring fingers mounted thereon and extending through said apertures, and

driving means connected in driving relation with said cage to cause the fingers to rotate said drum.

2. A pick-up of the character indicated com- 70 prising a hollow drum having apertured ends and a substantially cylindrical wall, supporting means for the drum extending through substantially central apertures in said ends, openings ,in said wall. an eccentrically positioned cage extending Tl longitudinally of said drum and supported for thednimissupportedandthroughwhichpow istransmittedtocauserotailonoftbecageand when the cage is rotated about its axis, engaging the edges of the openings in the wall of the drum and causing the drum to rotate.

5. In a pick-up, a power shaft, bearings to support said shaft, a sleeve surrounding said shaft 40 andfixedlysecuredinoneofsaidhearings-a drum rotatable about said sleeve, a bracket within said drum and fixedly mounted on said sleeve,

a shaft rotatably mounted in said bracket, a cage carried by the second shaft and rotatable therewith, means connecting said shafts to cause the second shaft to be rotated by the first shaft, and spring fingers carried by said cage and extending through openings in the wall of said drum, said spring fingers transmitting power to the drum 80 when the cage is' rotated and thus causing ro tion of the drum.

6. A pick-up comprising a power shaft, a drum connected to said shaft and freely rotatable with respect thereto, an axle within said drum and 56 extending longitudinally thereof, driving means for rotating said axle, a cage fixedly connected to said axle for-rotation therewith, and spring fingers projecting from said cage and rotating therewith, said spring fingers extending through 60 the wall of said drum andcausing rotation thereof when the cage shaft is rotated.

7. A pick-up comprising a fixed shaft, a sleeve surrounding said shaft and rotatable about-same as an axle, driving means for rotating said sleeve, adrumhavingoneendsupportedbythesleeve and freely rotatable thereon. an arm rigidly mounted on said shaft and held in a fixed position thereby, a shaft rotatably mounted in said arm, eccentrically with relation to the fixed shaft, a cage carried by the second shaft and rotating therewith, and spring fingers rigidly secured to the cage and rotating therewith. said spring flngersheingconnectedtosaiddnimtorotate same about the sleeve. Tl

said drum, and driving device to cause rotation thereof and thereby cause rotation of said drum by engagement of said fingers with the ends of said apertures.

9. A rotary pick-up device comprising in combination, a cylindrical drum having a plurality of peripherally extending slots disposed therein, means for supporting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a rotor disposed within said drum, means for supporting said rotor for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to but oflset from said drum axis; a plurality of resilient tines mounted on said rotor and extending through said slots, respectively. said tines being adapted to engage severed vegetation for moving the latter but being adapted to yield when they encounter an obstruction by moving along said slot relative to said drum, and means for rotating said drum and said rotor at the same speed of rotation. 10. In a rotary pick-up device of the class described including a rotatable drum having apertures therein, a rotor spindle supported rotatably within said drum substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum and offset therefrom, a plurality of tine supporting rods carried by said spindle and disposed substantially parallel thereto, and tines mounted on said rods and extending outwardly through said apertures.

11. A rotary pick-up device of the class described including a rotatable drum having apertures therein, a rotor supported within said drum for rotation about an axis spaced from the axis of said drum, said rotor comprising a plurality of parallel rods, and tines mounted on said rods and extending through said apertures.

12. A rotary pick-up device comprising in combination, an elongated hollow drum having a plurality of peripherally extending slots disposed therein, means for supporting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a rotor disposed within said drum, means for supporting said rotor for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to but offset from said drum axis; a plurality of tines mounted on said rotor and extending through said slots, respectively, said tines being adapted to engage severed vegetation for moving the latter but being adapted to yield when they encounter an obstruction by moving along said slot relative to said drum, and means for rotating said device, said last named means being adapted to normally maintain said tines in the leading portions of said slots when the tines are in engagement with material on the ground, to provide for said yielding movement.

13. A rotary pick-up device comprising in combination, a cylindrical drum having a plurality of perforations disposed therein, bearing means at opposite ends thereof for rotatably supporting said drum, a rotor disposed within said drum and carrying a plurality of tines extending outwardly through said perforations in the drum, a'shaft extending coaxially through said bearing means but restrained against rotation with the drum, means for supporting said rotor on said shaft for rotation within said drum on an axis spaced from the axis of rotation of said drum, a rotatable sprocket supported within said drum and coaxial with said'shaft, a second sprocket connected being eccentrically posito said rotor for rotation therewith, an endless chain interconnecting said sprockets, and means for driving said sprockets to rotate said rotor.

14. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a hollow drum having a plurality of perforations therein, a rotor disposed within said drum and carrying a plurality of tines extending outwardly through said perforations in the drum, a pair of concentric shafts disposed one within the other and extending into one end of and coaxial to said drum, means supporting said drum on one of said shafts and providing for rotation of said drum about the axis of said concentric shafts, a supporting frame for said device, bearing means on said frame in which one of said shafts is journaled, means for nonrotatably supporting the other of said shafts on said frame, bearingmeans disposed within said drum on which said rotor is journaled, bracket means fixed to said non-rotatably mounted shaft for supporting said rotor bearing means in offset relation to said concentric shafts, a pair of wheels mounted on said rotatably mounted shaft and on said rotor, respectively, power transmitting means interconnecting said pair of wheels, and means for driving said last named shaft.

15. In a rotary pick-up device of the class described, the combination of a rotatable drum having perforations through its cylindrical surface, a rotor disposed within said drum the axis of rotation of' which is parallel to and eccentric with that of the drum, means for rotating said rotor and said drum, said means including a revoluble member disposed within said drum concentric with the axis of rotation thereof and operatively connected with said rotor, and tines carried on said rotor and adapted to project through said perforations.

16. In a rotary pick-up device of the class described the combination of a rotatable drum having perforations through its cylindrical surface, a pair of bracket members non-rotatably supported within said drum near opposite ends thereof, a rotor journaled in said bracket members offset from and parallel to the axis of rotation of said drum, means for rotating said rotor and said drum, said means including a revoluble member disposed within said drum concentric with the axis of rotation thereof and connected with said rotor, and tines carried on said rotor and adapted to project through said perforations.

1'7. In a rotary pick-up device of the class described, the combination of a rotatable drum having perforations through its cylindrical surface, a pair of bracket members non-rotatably supported within said drum near opposite ends thereof, a rotor journaled in said bracket members offset from and parallel to the axis of rotation of said drum, means for rotating said rotor and said drum, said means including a wheel disposed within said drum concentric with the axis of rotation thereof and connected with the drum to rotate therewith, a wheel connected with said rotor in. radial alignment with said first mentioned wheel, flexible power transmitting means connecting said wheels, and tines carried on said rotor and adapted to project through said perforations.

18. A rotary pick-up device comprising, in combination, a cylindrical drum having a plurality of peripherally extending slots disposed therein, means for supporting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a rotor disposed Within said drum, means for supporting said rotor for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to but offset fromsaiddrumaxis,apluralityofresilienttines mountedonsaidrotorandextendingthrough said slots. respectively, said tines being adapted to engage severed vegetation for moving the latter but being adapted to yield when they encounter an obstruction by moving along said slots relative to saiddrum, and means for actuating the pick-up.

19. lnarotary ick-updeviceoftheclassdescribed, including a rotatable drum having aper-l tures therein. a rotor supporting spindle supported rotatably within said drum substantially paralleli'otheaxisofrotationofthedrumand offset therefrom. a plurality of tine-supporting members carried by said rotor-supporting spindle and disposed substantially parallel thereto, and tinesmountedonsaidmembersandextending outwardly through said apertures.

20. In a rotary pick-up device of the class described, including a rotatable drum having apertures therein. rotor-supporting mans supported rotatably within said drum substantially paralleltotheaxisofrotationofthedrumand oii'set therefrom. tine-supporting means carried by said rotor-supporting means and disposed substantially parallel thereto, and tines mounted on said tine-supporting means and extending outwardly through said apertures.

21. A rotary pick-up device of the class described, including a rotatable drum having apertures therein, a rotor suported within said drum for rotation about an axis spaced from the axis of said drum, said rotor comprising a plurality of parallel tine-supporting members, and tines mounted on said members and extending through said apertures.

22. In a rotary pick-up of tho-class described, the combination of a cylindrical drum having cireumferentially extending slots in its peripheral surface, means for supporting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a rotor disposed within said drum, means for suporting said rotor for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to but offset from said drum axis, means for rotating said rotor. and a plurality of tines mounted on said rotor and projecting outwardly through said slots. said tines being adapted to yield by moving along the length of said slots.

23. A rotary pick-up device comprising, in combination, an elongated hollow drum having a plurality of peripherally extending slots distill therein. means for supporting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a rotor disposed within said drum, means for suporting said rotor for rotation about an axis substantially parallel tobutoffsetfromsaiddrumaxiaaplurality of tines mounted on said rotor spaced angularly with relation to each other about the axis of the rotor and extending through said slots. respectively, said tines being adapted to engage severed vegetation for moving the latter but being adapted to yield when they encounter an obstruction by moving along said slots relative to said drum. and means for rotating said device.

24. A rotary pick-up device comprising, in combination, a cylindrical drum having a plurality of perforations disposed therein, bearing means at opposite ends thereof for rotatably supporflng saiddrum.arotordisposedwithinsaiddrumand carrying a plurality of tines extending outwardly through said perforations in the drum, drumsupportingmeansmountedcoaxiallyinsaidbearing means but restrained against rotation with the drum. means for supporting said rotor on said drum-supporting means for rotation within said drumonanaxisspacedfromtheaxisof rotation of said drum. a rotatable sprocket supported within said drum and coaxial with said drum-supporting means. a second sprocket connected to said rotor for rotation therewith, an endless chain interconnecting said sprockets, and means for driving said sprockets to rotate said rotor.

25. In a pick-up for loose vegetable matter, in combination, a rotatable drum having peripheral apertures for the reception of fingers, a rotary member within said drum. eccentrically positioned and having fingers mounted thereon and extending through the apertures, spring means connected with said fingers to normally hold them in a forward position, and driving means connected in driving relation with said member to cause rotation thereof.

26. In a rotary pick-up device'of the class described, including a rotatable drum having apertures therein. a shaft rotatably supported within said drum substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum and offset therefrom, and tines supported by said shaft, spaced symmetrically around the axis thereof and extending outwardly through said apertures.

- GEORGE INNEB. 

